A Tube of Many Mysteries
By Dr. E. G. Ervin

The simple piece of conjuring apparatus presently to be described is capable of infinite variation. It may well be used to produce a silk handkerchief in a glass previously shown empty. Again, a red silk may be placed in the glass, which has been covered with the tube, and a color change to green effected. Or it may be used to advantage in the popular twentieth century handkerchief trick.

The tube is of sufficient diameter to permit its being slipped over an ordinary drinking glass. Its length is about six inches. It may be readily constructed out of cardboard. Four small holes are punched in the tube, two on each end, about a half inch from one side. The first hole on each side should be three-fourths of an inch from the end of the tube and the second hole on each side should be about onefourth of an inch further on. A reference to the illustration will make this clear.

A rubber band is cut -- thus giving a single strand rather than a loop. A knot is tied in one end. The other end is threaded through the first hole on one side, out through the opposite hole on the other side, and then run back through the two remaining holes. The free end of the elastic is knotted to prevent the rubber slipping through the last hole. Thus we have two strands of rubber running across the tube near one end.

Considering the simplest effect first, the production of a single silk in the glass. It will be necessary to roll up a silk and tuck it under the rubber strands. There it will be held securely, but may be quickly dislodged by merely pushing it down with the fingers. In showing the tube empty- rather, apparently empty-the tube is held with the fingers on the inside covering the silk which is secured therein. This effectively conceals the silk from the all too inquisitive eyes of the audience. The tube, prepared end up, is then placed over the glass. The fingers of the hand holding the tube dislodge the handkerchief. It drops into the glass and unfurls, the tube is removed and magic has been done.

In accomplishing the color change, the tube is prepared in the same way. Let us presume that a red silk has been put beneath the rubbers. The tube is placed over a glass in the same way as before and the red silk is dislodged so that it falls into the glass. Now the magician shows another silk-green. This green silk is rolled up and seemingly dropped into the tube. Actually, however, the green silk is pushed beneath the rubbers, where it is destined to remain. Raise the tube, concealing the green silk with the fingers, and show the red silk in the glass.

The twentieth century effect is accomplished in similar fashion. Three silks, red, yellow and green, are knotted together, bunched up and deposited beneath the rubbers. The tube is placed over a glass and the three silks are dislodged. Duplicate red and green silks are knotted together, rolled up and placed under the rubbers. A duplicate yellow silk is vanished, the tube is raised and the trick is over.